Ultrasonographic Findings of Mastitic and Normal Mammary Gland in Bitches

Abstract

The mammary gland is very important for the health of the offspring and the mother. It is subjected to multiple pathologies, the most important being mammary tumours and mastitis. The evaluation of mammary gland in bitches is done primarily by clinical exam, but imagistic means of diagnostic became more frequently used, especially when neoplasms are involved. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify the imaging characteristic of inflamed mammary parenchyma and to test the reliability of ultrasound in evaluating canine mastitis. This study involved 12 lactating bitches of different breed and ages included in two research groups: the first group counted in 7 animals that showed clinical signs of mastitis, while the second group had 5 clinically healthy animals, being the control group. All animals were subjected to a clinical exam, followed by an ultrasound examination and milk samples collection. The ultrasound examination was done in B mode and color Doppler using both linear and microconvex transducers at a frequency of 8 Mz. Milk samples were checked for color, consistency and pH and were later submitted for bacteriological and bacterioscopic examinations. All data that followed from the examinations was collected and analyzed. The ultrasound examination highlighted the existence of a characteristic architecture of the layers of healthy mammary glands in the bitch. This architecture could not be seen in any of the inflamed glands. In some cases, the normal aspect of the parenchyma could still be seen at the periphery of the affected mammary gland. The inflamed parenchyma appeared either hypoechogenic (71.43% of cases) or hyperechogenic (28.57%) compared to healthy tissue. In 57.14% of cases there could be seen multiple hyperechogenic septa, alternating with hypo-echogenic areas while 42.86% of cases presented acoustic artefacts. The vascularisation was increased in the affected areas with blood flow being either linear (71.43%) or turbulent (21.57%). All cases diagnosed with mastitis were confirmed by bacteriologic and bacterioscopic studies. This study concluded that mammary glands in bitches can be investigated using ultrasound in grey scale B mode and color Doppler when mastitis is suspected. It offers irrefutable evidence of the inflammation of the glandular parenchyma and the spreading of the disease.